Pasay SK chair, 7 others wanted for hijack, holdup of vlogger

Police are pursuing a Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairman in Pasay City and seven other suspects for the alleged hijacking of a content creator's vehicle and robbery.

According to a "24 Oras" report by Jhomer Apresto on Friday, CCTV footage at around 10 p.m. on Wednesday showed two men leaving a white SUV and causing traffic to build in Barangay 792, Sta. Ana, Manila.

It was later revealed that the two had transferred to a different vehicle.

“Kumanan dito sa may A. Francisco, dirediretso na. Bali nakita natin may parang cable tie na pula sa may lapag, tapos yung 2 tsinelas sa may driver’s seat,” said Barangay 792 kagawad Arman Perez.

(They turned left at A. Francisco and headed straight. We saw a red cable tie on the floor, and two pairs of slippers at the driver’s seat.)

Later on, authorities from the Manila Police District and the Pasay Police Station arrived at the scene in pursuit of the passengers of the vehicle, who were revealed to be armed men who hijacked the car at Barangay 190 in Pasay City.

Authorities said the vehicle initially held four victims, including a content creator who sold gold.

“’Yung mga sasakyan po ng mga biktima natin, biglang hinarang ng mga suspects. Then yung driver at pasahero dito sa harap, nakatakas. So dalawa na lang natitira dito sa likod, 'yun ang kinommando ng suspects natin,” said Pasay Police chief Police Colonel Joselito de Sesto.

(The suspects suddenly blocked the cars of our victims. The driver and the passenger at the front were able to escape. So there were only two victims left at the back, and they were the ones commandeered by the suspects.)

The victims who escaped were able to immediately seek assistance from authorities, who were able to conduct a dragnet operation and trace the vehicle.

The remaining victims were able to escape the suspects after they found out that the vehicle was left unlocked, but the suspects were able to take around P6 million worth of cash and jewelry.

“Noong ililipat sila sa ibang sasakyan, tamang-tama na na-check nila na di nakalock [ang kotse], so doon na sila nagpulasan… Yung mga biktima natin, ito talaga yung kanilang negosyo, yung magtrade-in ng mga gold,” de Sesto added.

(When they were about to be transferred to a different car, they thought to check and found that [the car] wasn’t locked, so that’s when they escaped… Our victims’ business is really trading in gold.)

Hours later, police located the suspects at a resort in Barangay Pansol, Calamba, Laguna, and arrested a 22-year-old man.

They were also able to seize a grenade from the suspect.

“Sa korte na lang ako magpapaliwanag,” the suspect said.

(I’ll just explain in court.)

Police said they have identified six of the 10 suspects, including an SK chairman and a kagawad in a barangay in Pasay, who have both gone into hiding.

The investigation also showed that some of the suspects know the victims.  This was the fifth time the suspects were involved in a similar crime that took place in different areas.

The arrested suspect and the others being pursued will face charges for robbery, violation of the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition, and Illegal Possession of Explosives. —Jiselle Anne C. Casucian/LDF, GMA Integrated News